Distributor or timer for automobiles and multiple-cylinder internalcombustion engines



H. GROSS DISTRIBUTOR OR TIMER FOR AUTOMOBILES AND MULTIPLE CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 1, 1921 FWa uvgrroie. I ifM.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN GROSS, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

DISTRIBUTOR OR TIMER FOR AUTOMOBILES AND MULTIPLE-CYLINDER INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed October 1, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HERMAN Gross. citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributors or Timers for Automobiles and Multiple-Cylinder InternalrCombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in distributors or timers for automobiles and multiple-cylinder internal combustion ennes.

The objects of my invention are, to provide a compact, waterproof timer or distributor of simple construction efficient operation and great durability, which will need no lubrication and will automatically adjust itself to wear.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front or plan view of my device; Fig. 2 is a section on. the line A A of Figure 1; Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line B B of Figure 2 and Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line C C of Figure 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My timer comprises a casing 1, of aluminum, iron or other suitable material, of circular form, but tapered at the back and the smaller part of the tapered portion bent at right angles and continued to form a tube or conduit for the wires 16. The interior parts of my timer are insulated from the case by insulating rings 2, 3 and 4. The insulating rings 2 and 3 carry tracks 5 and 6, which are rings of steel, bronze or other suitable material set into the insulating rings 2 and 3 respectively. The rings 5 and 6 form tracks and guides for an annular brush 7, formed in ringshape which may be a solid piece with a T-shaped section in the form of a flanged channel as shown in Figure 2. The latter form is preferable as being somewhat lighter than the solid piece. Inside of the annular brush 7, the ring 8, preferably of insulating material graphited or otherwise impregnated with lubricating material, is inserted. This insulating ring is mounted upon and actuated by a cam 9, rigidly securedto the timer shaft of the automobile Serial No. 504,771.

I have omitted the shaft as it is of common, well known construction used upon practically all cars and the collar 11, may be varied in size and shape to be readily mounted upon any timer shaft.

A. spring 10, preferably coiled compression spring, is seated in a socket in the collar 11, and bears inwardly against the collar 11, and outwardly against the cam 9, so as to maintain contact between the flanges of the brush 7 and the tracks 5 and 6, so that in case of any wear upon the bearings of the timer shaft, any play caused thereby will be taken up automatically by the spring 10.

The tracks 5 and 6, are connected to the case by short strips of metal 12, suitably secured tothe tracks and the case and form an electrical connection with the annular brush 7 Contact points 13, are suitably secured preferably by soldering or welding, to springs 14, which are press-fitted into slots formed in the insulating ring 4, and connected to the wires 16, by flat strips of spring metal 15. being soldered or otherwise suitably connected to one of the wires 16, and the opposite end of 15, being suitably connected to its adjacent spring 1 1.

In the operation of my device, the collar 11, is suitably secured to the timer shaft of an automobile or other gas engine and the case is secured in a stationary position by screws, bolts or any desired manner. It

is preferably mounted in a position where the wires 16, will lead downward or slope downward so; that water will not follow them into the timer.

As the timer shaft revolves, it carries with it the collar11, which in turn drives the cam 9, and by its travel, and the pres sure of the spring 10, the annular brush 7, is driven into contact successively with the contact points 13, thus establishing contact and causing electric current to flow through the wires 16, and through the spark gap of the spark plugs in the usual well-known manner. a

Contact is maintained for sufiicient length of time to permit complete firing of the charge in the cylinders respectively.

The track and guides 5 and 6, hold the annular brush 7, securely in place and being of hard metal, prevent any considerable wear. In case there is any wear of the tracks and 6. it is compensated by the springs 14, which are allowed sufficient throw to form a contact even though the annular brush 7, or the tracks and 6, become somewhat worn.

In practice, it is found that the action of the cam 9, will produce a rotary motion of the annular brush 7, which gives it a rolling action upon the contact points 13, and insures a good contact. There is also a small amount of slipping which causes a wiping action that tends to keep the contact points clean and bright.

It is obvious that the construction of this timer will reduce wear to a. minimum and that the spring adjustments will automatically operate to take up any slack caused by wear of the timer shaft or its bearings and also any slack caused by wear of the tracks or annular brush; also that the large size of the parts will reduce wear to a minimum.

I claim:

1. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft, of a cam mounted upon the collar. a spring secured between the collar and the cam arranged to exert pressure inwardly against the collar and outwardly against the cam. an insulating ring mounted on the cam and around the cam and collar. an annular brush mounted upon and closely fitting the insulating ring, means for forming a contact between the annular brush and contact points mounted in an insulating ring smrounding the annular brush.

2. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft. of a cam mounted upon the collar. a spring secured between the collar and the cam arranged to exert pressure inwardly against the collar and outwardly against the cam. a lubricating ring mounted on the cam and around the cam and collar. an annular brush mounted upon and closely fitting the lubricating ring, means for forming a contact between the annular brush and contactpoints mounted in an insulating ring surrounding the annular brush.

In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft, of a cam mounted upon the collar, a spring secured between the collar and the cam arranged to exert pressure inwardly against the collar and outwardly against the cam, an annular bushing mounted on the cam and around the cam and collar, contact points secured to springs mounted in an insulating ring surrounding the annular brush at a suitable distance therefrom, means for connecting the contact points electrically with one side of an electric circuit and means for connecting the annular brush with the other side of the electric circuit.

4:. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft, of a cam mounted upon the collar, a spring secured between the collar and the cam arranged to exert pressure inwardly against the collar and outwardly against the cam, an annular bushing mounted on the cam and around the cam and collar, contact points secured to springs mounted in an insula-ting ring surrounding the annular brush at a suitable distance therefrom. and means for connecting the contact points and the annular brush respectively with the lead and return wires of an electric circuit.

5. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft, of an annular brush comprising a channel-shaped middle portion with flanges extending laterally therefrom, the flanges forming treads and the intermediate portion forming a contact member.

6. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a. collar mountable upon the timer shaft. of an annular brush comprising a channel-shaped middle portion with flanges extending laterally from the channel, the flanges forming treads and the intermediate portion forming a contact member, and metal rings suitably secured surrounding the flanges of the annular brush and of somewhat larger circumference and forming tracks upon which the flanged portion of the annular brush travels.

7. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft. of an annular brush comprising a middle portion with flanges extending later ally therefrom, the flange forming a tread and the intermediate portion forming a contact member and metal rings suitably secured surrounding the annular brush and of somewhat larger circumference than its flanges and forming tracks and guides which direct and limit the travel of the annular brush.

8. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mount-able upon the timer shaft. of an annular brush comprising a channel-shaped middle portion with flanges extending laterally from the channel. the

flange forming a tread and the intermediate I portion forming a contact member, metal rings suitably secured surrounding the annular brush and of somewhat larger circumference and forming tracks upon which the flanged portion of the annular brush travels. and means for connecting one of the metal track rings with the electric circuit.

9. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft, of an annular brush comprising a middle portion with flanges extending laterally therefrom, the flanges forming treads and the intermediate portion forming a contact member, metal rings suitably secured surrounding thcannular brush and of somewhat larger circumference and forming tracks upon which the flanged portion of the annular brush travels, means for connecting the metal track rings with the electric circuit. contact points suitably mounted in insulating rings surrounding the annular brush and means for connecting the contact points with the electric circuit.

ll). In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a collar mountable upon the timer shaft, of an annular brush comprising an extended middle portion with flanges extending laterally therefrom, the flanges forming treads and the intermediate portion forming a contact member, metal rings suitably secured surrounding the flanges of the annular brush and of somewhat larger circum it'erence and forming tracks upon which the flanged portions of the annular brush travel, means for connecting the metal tracks with the electric circuit. contact points suitably mounted in insulating rings surrounding the annular brush, means for connecting the 7 contact points with, the electric circuit, and

a suitable case surrounding the insulating rings and the annular brush.

11. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a suitable case, with insulating wires from the electric circuit entering the case, but insulated therefrom, of a series of insulating rings consisting of internal, intermediate and external rings secured to the case, contact points suitably mounted upon springs secured to the intermediate insulating ring, metal tracks secured respectively in. the internal and external rings, a metallic connection connecting the metal tracks with the case, metallic connections passing through or secured to the internal insulating ring connecting the wires with the contact points respectively.

12. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a suitable case, with insulating wires from the electric circuit entering the case, but insulated therefrom, of a series of insulating rings consisting of internal, intermediate and external rings secured to the case, contact points suitably mounted upon springs secured to the intermediate insulating ring, metal tracks secured respectively in the internal and external rings, a metallic connect-ion connecting the metal tracks with the case, metallic connections passing through or secured to the internal insulating ring connecting, the wires with the contact points respectively, an annular brush having flanges corresponding to and adapted to travel upon the metal tracks and an intermediate portion adapted to contact with the contact points during the course of such travel.

13. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combination with a suitable case, of insulating wires from the electric circuit entering the case, but insulated therefrom, a series of insulating rings consisting of internal, intermedi-- ate and external rings secured to the case, contact points suitably mounted upon springs secured to the intermediate insulating ring, metal tracks secured respectively in the internal and external rings, a conductor connecting the metal track with the case, metallic connections passing through or secured to the internal insulating ring connecting the wires with the contact points respectively, an annular brush having flanges corresponding to and adapted to travel upon the metal tracks and an intermediate portion adapted to contact with the contact points during the course of such travel, the annular brush beingmounted upon and surrounding a ring of insulating material which in turn is so mounted as to surround a cam secured to a collar adapted to seat upon and be secured to a timer shaft.

14. In a timer for the electric circuit of internal combustion engines, the combina-- tion with a suitable case, of insulating wires from the electric circuit entering the case, but insulated therefrom, a series of insulating rings consisting of internal, intermediate and external rings secured to the case, contact points suitably mounted upon springs secured to the intermediate insulating ring, metal tracks secured respectively in the internal and external rings, a-'conduc tor connecting one of the metal tracks with the case, metallic connections passing through or secured to the internal insulating ring connecting the wires with the contact points respectively, an annular brush having flanges corresponding to andadapted to travel upon the metal tracks and an intermediate portion adapted to contact with the contact points during the course of such travel. the annular brush being mounted upon and surrounding a ring of insulatingmaterial whichin turn is so mounted as to surround a cam secured to a collar adapted to seat upon and be secured to a timer shaft.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

HERMAN GROSS. 

